***Live Updates*** 2018 Midterm Election Results

Welcome to the Breitbart News LiveWire of the 2018 midterm elections. Democrats need to pick up 23 seats to take back the House of Representatives and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), who is looking to regain her Speakership, said earlier in the day that she is 100% certain that Democrats will win back the House. As David Axelrod said on CNN, Trump will either win the House tonight or retiring House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) will lose it.

Democrats are less optimistic about taking back the Senate, especially after President Donald Trump barnstormed across the country in recent weeks to stump for key Republican Senate candidates. Odds favor Republicans maintaining control of the Senate and perhaps even gaining a few seats.

All eyes will also be on key gubernatorial races in states (Georgia, Florida, Ohio, Wisconsin) that will have huge 2020 ramifications.

Precincts across key states have seen record turnout while voting machines have malfunctioned from Georgia to Texas, forcing voters to stand hours in line to vote. Exit polling revealed that health care was the top issue for midterm voters while immigration was the most important issue for GOP voters.

Stay tuned throughout the evening for live updates of all of the important races. All times eastern.

An official victor may not be known for days — and maybe longer, if the final tally were to trigger a recount or legal challenge, experts say. As Tuesday night ticked toward Wednesday morning, the lack of an outcome began to settle in.

2:45 AM: CALIFORNIA UPDATE:

California update:

CA-10: Denham (R) up by 0.8%CA-21: Valadao (R) up by 12.0% CA-25: Hill (D) up by 0.2%CA-39: Kim (R) up by 8.6%CA-45: Walters (R) up by 5.4%CA-48: Rouda (D) up by 0.4%CA-49: Levin (D) up by 4.8%

12:30 AM: WH Statement from Sarah Sanders: “Tonight, President Trump called Leader Mitch McConnell to congratulate him on the historic senate gains. He also spoke with Speaker Paul Ryan and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. The President called to congratulate Rick Scott, Mike DeWine, Kevin Cramer, Josh Hawley, Brian Kemp, and Ron DeSantis. Lastly, the President talked to Sen. Chuck Schumer. He and the Vice President will continue to make calls tonight and tomorrow.”

President Trump called Leader Pelosi at 11:45 p.m. this evening to extend his congratulations on winning a Democratic House Majority. He acknowledged the Leader’s call for bipartisanship in her victory remarks.

11:35 PM: Pelosi takes the stage at the DCCC party and the crowd chants “Speaker!” Pelosi recognizes the Dem. leadership. Pelosi says Democrats “owned the ground” and “tomorrow will be a new day in America.”

“Remember this feeling. Know the power to win,” Pelosi talks about how Democrats will protect health care and awkwardly says, “let’s hear it more for preexisting medical conditions.” She claims Democrats will “strive for bipartisanship” and talks about a “bipartisan marketplace of ideas” that will “bring us together.” Her left-wing base may not agree.

‘Let’s hear it … for preexisting medical conditions,’ Pelosi says, raising her fist. Not as snappy as jobs/mobs or stopping the invasion.

With 6% reporting, Democrat JD Scholten is leading Republican Steve King in Iowa’s 4th District by 4 percentage points. King will need his base of support and the rural areas of the district to come out tonight.

10:46 PM: MONTANA:

In Montana, not only is Sen Jon Tester D-MT winning by 18%, but Rep Greg Gianforte R-MT (the body slammer) is losing 54-44% with 11% reporting

.@jaketapper just noted that Republicans who've lost seats are critics of Trump. There's a "chicken-and-egg" problem here — they may be more critical because their seats were already more vulnerable — but it's worth noting that running away from Trump did not seem to help much.

Dem IN Sen Donnelly: I called Mike Braun and congratulated him on winning a hard-fought race. I’d like to thank every single American who believed in this campaign and worked to make it successful, and every Hoosier whom I have come across over the last six years

9:39 PM: FOX NEWS PROJECTS DEMS WILL TAKE HOUSE before polls close in Western states?

This is interesting. ⁦@FoxNews⁩ calls the House while California is still voting for 90 min. They could be right, but if Republicans continue to turn out in the Golden State, things could shift. The network will face a lot of questions after tonight and this is one of them. pic.twitter.com/QPU4vks4wM

The Fox News Decision Desk can now project that Democrats will take control of the House of Representatives for the first time in eight years, dealing a major setback to President Trump’s legislative agenda

9:25 PM: Pobrecita! CNN’s Van Jones heartbroken. He thought “antibodies” would kick in against the “infestation” of hatred… Elite media members look very sad yet again. They still haven’t figured out how much regular people hate their smugness.

Among the supporters tonight ⁦@SenatorMenendez⁩’s HQ is Evelyn Arroyo-Maultsby, a juror on his federal corruption trial. She achieved some fame when she left the jury last year during deliberations to go on vacation. She would’ve voted for acquittal. ⁦@northjersey⁩ pic.twitter.com/mVNSJdwGtK

BREAKING: Florida just passed Amendment 4, restoring voting rights to 1.4 million people with a past felony conviction. Not only does this repeal one of the country’s worst Jim Crow laws, it’s also the largest expansion in voting rights since the Voting Rights Act. pic.twitter.com/Mi19hRAAtT

With 1% reporting in Kansas gubernatorial race, Democrat Laura Kelly leads Republican Kris Kobach by only 774 votes. Kobach needs Sedgwick County to come out strong for him to make up for Kelly’s stronghold’s in the Kansas City metro region.

As I'm looking at some of the results coming in, I honed in on the Chancellor Precinct in Spotsylvania County where I've voted. In 2016, Dave Brat won that precinct. Now? Spanberger won, to my surprise. (Spotsy is still very red for #VA07 it looks like though) pic.twitter.com/z6uxIdo6vT

"Mike Braun is clobbering Joe @SenDonnelly right now" says GOP Steve Shine from Fort Wayne. Adding Pres. Trump's visit yesterday "was the icing on the cake" it was one of the "largest crowds ever" at the Memorial Coliseum#Decision2018

Kris Kobach, who oversees Kansas elections as secretary of state, said early voting appears to have set records for a midterm. He also said there was high turnout today in conservative and liberal counties. Both sides expect a close race. Polls close in most of KS in 127 minutes. pic.twitter.com/svlcSbNWUj

If you are in line by 7pm, you ARE allowed to vote. Long lines have long-term value — this election isn't about the next 4 years, it's about the next 40. Don't leave the polling place until you case your ballot and #BringItHome

Remember, Georgia: If you’re in line when the polls close at 7pm, you can still cast a ballot—so stay in line and vote! While the GOP has been trying to make this election about anything but the future you want for your families, you are on the verge of making history.

Here's a little spreadsheet I've been using as I've covered the McGrath/Barr race in Kentucky's 6th. It shows how big Barr won each county in 2016 and the number of registered voters. pic.twitter.com/jHkjUwCdx3

Locked in an extremely tight race with Republican Mike Braun U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly(D) makes brief remarks at the Hyatt Regency in Indy this evening. Asked about the high voter turnout here's his response: pic.twitter.com/nUoueAUK0g

Mike Braun early lead with 2,750 votes, Joe Donnelly 1,801, and Libertarian Lucy Brenton 244.Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY) has an early lead with first polls in Kentucky with 304 votes, while Amy McGrath has 207 votes.

6:08 PM: The media and establishment Republicans have done everything they could to downplay the obvious in past elections. Immigration matters to Americans:

Party ID: Democrats account for 38 percent of voters in exit poll results so far, Republicans for 32 percent and independents for 30 percent. That compares with 36-37-27 percent in 2014, and 37-33-29 percent in 2016.

Ideology: Liberal-moderate-conservative group sizes in results so far are 27-38-36 percent. That compares with 22-39-38 percent in the 2014 midterms. (And 26-38-36 percent in 2016.)

Sex: Women account for 52 percent of voters in preliminary results, matching their previous high in a midterm from 2010.

Race: Nonwhites account for 28 percent of voters nationally in preliminary results. The highest in any previous midterm was 25 percent in 2014. These compare with a low of 9 percent in 1990.

More Early @NBC Exit Poll results: One In Four Hispanics Say They Cast a Midterm Ballot for the First Time in 2018. 1 in 5 for African Americans. 1 in 10 for whites.

6:02 PM: According to CNN’s exit polls, 16% are first-time voters and 65% made up their minds about House races more than a month ago.

6 PM: Polls are closed in some parts of Indiana and Kentucky. The first close race of the night will be between Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY) and Democrat Amy McGrath in Kentucky’s 6th District.

KY-6 isn't really a bellwether, but one reason Republicans have been watching it closely is that many have quietly assumed Amy McGrath, the Democrat, could challenge Mitch McConnell for his Senate seat in 2020 if she wins.

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